Top Scariest Disney Animated Moments

Scary Beyond Belief👻😈🎃

I'm sure I speak for those who are of similar age to myself, that Disney animated films indefinitely covered a large span of own childhoods. To put it simply, ever since the 1930's, the legacy that Walt Disney's built has indeed morphed and grown into the mega popular and powerful film studio/conglomerate that we know of today, and this is thanks to how the films that have covered the said studio have provided magical escapism for the younger generation more so than any other film genre. Wherever you go, you'll find people, both young and old, who are infatuated with the characters and stories found in the films that cover the House of Mouse. This is simply down to the imagination that Disney has brought to the silver-screen over the years. However, despite the studio being synonymous with wholesome family fun, there's no denying that Disney's animated classics are rife with dark and unsettling moments; instances where you can't help to reflect and think, "Well...This is a bit intense!" Indeed, as much as we might reflect contently on the Disney films we grew-up on, it can't be denied that these animations presented imagery that gave us nightmares afterwards. While the Disney films of today don't nearly enough display visuals of fright, the filmography that the famed studio upholds exhibit a variety of features that harrow at our very well-being. However, which moments specifically? Well, let's see precisely...Here are my scariest Disney moments...

1. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs - The Satanic Woods

From the wicked queen to the creepy mirror and the various attempts of murder, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, the 1937 animated feature which propelled the name of Walt Disney and the films that followed, is one of the many profoundly darker Disney films that retains some of the scary elements found in the much darker Brothers Grimm story it's based on. While, for a lot of people, the queen's transformation into the old and haggard witch, or even the said characters demise by falling from a cliff, maybe the most disturbing aspect of the feature, by far the most scariest scene to witness is Snow White herself traversing through a shadowy forest of floating eyes and shrieking music that evokes this sense that you're in a nightmare. By using the rotoscope animation technique, a method which is used by animators to trace over live-action motions, this scene in question is not only harrowing to witness, it's also a sequence that is enchantingly visceral with the way in which Snow White herself frantically moves in conjunction with hand-like tree branches and face-lie tree trunks. As imaginative as it is, it's no wonder that this specific sequence frightened me when I was little and agitated many others as well...

2. Fantasia - Night On Bald Mountain

If there's a decision to be made in determining which Disney feature is the most unique, it would be that of Fantasia, a 1940's Walt Disney experiment which effectively amalgamated symphonic music with beautifully varied animation styles. However, while many of you will fondly remember the film for Mickey Mouse's appearance in The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment and other sections featuring dancing flowers, hippos and alligators, it can't be forgotten that the film is also remembered for the Night On Bald Mountain sequence; the epitome of scary animation. In this aforementioned segment, Disney has basically the Devil himself summoning the un-dead and ghouls of the night to terrorise the living. Featuring a dark demon that goes by the name of Chernobog, Modest Mussorgsky's composed music devilishly elevates our viewing experience in ways that see's us wincing and grimacing upon the said demon's appearance from the dark mountain. It is only when the dark devil wraps his wings around his body and blends into the peak of the mountain once again where we can breathe and relax; something which I did when watching this film first time around. Indeed, this shadowy, foreboding dark short ranks amongst the most disturbing scenes from any family film...

3. Bambi - Fight Scene

As much as many will point towards the most talked about and arguably traumatising moment in Disney's cinematic history in the death of Bambi's mother to be the most harrowing scene in the 1942 animated feature, one particular scene that sticks out like a sore thumb to me, is the moment in which Bambi's romantic courtship with Faline is interrupted by a belligerent older stag who challenges Bambi to earn the rights to the doe's affections. Similar to how the forest scene in Snow White starts, this scene begins rather innocently with Bambi and Faline getting acquainted with one another, but then is frantically disturbed with the appearance of another stag which is followed-up with a fight scene that boldly uses dark lighting to, of course, to illuminate this sense of tension. It is these random instances that caught me off-guard when I was little and combined with the ever manoeuvring colours and lighting that is bestowed upon this very duel, it's not surprising that I was afraid. This isn't to say that I found the death of Bambi's mother hard to watch either, but it is this scene specifically which unnerved me...

4. Pinocchio - Displeasure on Pleasure Island

There's no denying that Pinocchio upholds a variety of disturbing moments. From the giant angry sperm whale which hunts Pinocchio and Geppetto in the closing moments of the film, to the Coachman who tells the fox, "they're never come back as Boys!" as his face turns bright pink and his eyes turn green, it's hard to make a case against this 1940's Disney animated classic being a fair and free watch. However, the scariest moment throughout the eighty-eight minutes is without a doubt the events that unfold on Pleasure Island, a place that seems to be seamless fun for naughty kids, but is really a setting where these boys are turned into donkeys! The transformation of Pinocchio's friend of  Lampwick, who turns into a jittering jackass, perfectly exemplifies the true horror of Pleasure Island; evoking pain and distress once we see his hands become hooves and when he cries in panic to the shocking realisation. Again, it's this unexpected nature of events that unfold which makes this scene scary for myself and it's exuded further when Pinocchio himself slowly inhabits big ears and a tail coming from his rear. To put it bluntly, it's a weird, shocking and disturbing scene as you'll ever see in an animated feature...  

5. Sleeping Beauty - Fireplace

If there's one particular instance in any of the Disney films that I grew-up with that candidly frightened me to the core, it would the moment in which Maleficent eerily appears near the fireplace in which Princess Aurora is sleeping near in Sleeping Beauty; making her bewitching appearance known through those glaring green eyes. The very instance in which I witnessed this moment on a rather small television at my grandmothers house, I couldn't get it out my head how haunting this particular scene was and it so happened to be that I never laid my eyes on the film ever again due to the fact that it petrified me so much. Even when watching the clip recently for this Blog Post, it gave me complete chills, thanks to the subtle yet encroaching violin musical score that definitely heightens the mentioned moment. All I will say is, just watch and the clip and see for yourselves!...😱

6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Hellfire

Although it's not as intimidating in comparison to many other terrorising sequences that have already been mentioned, you can't oppose the spookiness that The Hunchback of Notre Dame provides in many of its dark scenes; especially when the character of Judge Claude Frollo lusts for the young Gypsy Esmerelda in the 'Hellfire' sequence. Indeed, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame feature film is one of the more darker tales that has come out Disney's animated studios; exhibiting a premise which upholds rather dark motifs Catholicism and judging people on first appearances. The whole film is dripping with Catholic guilt best exuded with the antagonist of Frollo who is driven by a repressed sexual urge and madness following the appearance of Esmerelda of which he can't resolve due to his devout religious views. The culmination of this comes in the form of the rather expressive 'Hellfire' song sequence where we see Frollo give-in to his dark temptations. It's an incredibly dark plot point for sure, of which is rarely addressed considering its seen as a Disney feature, but it's a subtext that is filled with fearful and abstract animation that ensnares your gaze.

7. Alice In Wonderland - Alice leaving Wonderland

Similar to how The Hunchback of Notre Dame doesn't possess too many frightful moments despite the context of the film possessing dark undertones, Alice In Wonderland is another Disney feature which also doesn't uphold moments of scary grandeur. However, despite this, one particular moment in this film which left me in a bit of a fearful daze is the moment in which Alice is running away from the Queen of Hearts and is attempting to leave Wonderland. Understandably, many of you reading will probably think that this ending scene is at all scary in relation to the other moments already mentioned. However, from my own perspective when watching the film alongside my older brothers, it oddly creeped me out. Looking back at the scene in reflection, I think one of the things about the scene that frightened me was the colouring and editing, and how Alice quickly interacted with every other character before reaching the small door to escape from Wonderland. I know...I know. The scene itself isn't that scary to look at in retrospect. But it did its purpose in freaking me out at very small age...

8. Dumbo - Pink Elephant Dance

The last entry on this list of scariest Disney moments is the visually disturbing pink elephant dance from Disney's Dumbo; a scene that was like going on a drug trip that I, in no way, asked for. As much as the faces of some of the elephants shown in this sequence startled me to the point where I had to leave the room, what's menacing more than any other aspect about this scene is the longevity. In being over four minutes long, that's quite a substantial amount of time for a young kid to endure; specially when you have a scene like this displays imagery that is both imaginative and alarmingly bizarre. I mean, what's the deal with the elephant that's playing with thunder bolts?! It made me confused to the point where I didn't know what to feel! 

With that, it's time for me to end this week's special Halloween Blog Post. As always everyone, thank you for reading this recent Film List where I go through my scariest Disney moments and I hope you've all enjoyed the read! If you think there should been another scary Disney moment added into this list that I've comprised, feel free to comment down below. If I'm honest, I do get the feeling that I'm missing a few moments so I apologise if I've missed really obvious moments. Nevertheless, normal service will resume next week as I'll finally bring you a Film Review of Kingsman: The Golden Circle. It's approaching that time of year when a lot of mainstream film and T.V. properties are released, so expect to see a lot on this Blog in the coming weeks and months! Once again, thank you so very much for reading my latest Blog Post and I'll see you all next week! Happy Halloween!!...*evil laughter* MWAHAHAHAH 😏😈🎃👻💀